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Unlocking the West Midlands’ Night-Time Economy: Insights from the Live Music Mapping Project new report
The West Midlands is home to a thriving cultural scene. From live music venues and theatres to bustling bars and nightclubs, the region’s night-time economy is a cornerstone of its identity and growth. Yet, behind the vibrant lights and packed events lies a challenge that affects audiences, workers, and the environment alike: how do we…
Banning the Beat? Busking Regulation Across Cities in Light of Birmingham’s 2025 Crackdown
In August 2025, Birmingham City Council introduced a sweeping Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that effectively bans all busking in key areas of the city centre until 2028. The stated aim: to reduce noise pollution and improve public wellbeing. The order prohibits the use of amplification equipment, musical instruments, or any items used as instruments…
Between Center and Peripheries: Mapping Florence’s Music Ecosystem
Chiara De Dominicis, Alessandro Bratus (LMMP Italian Team) Mapping Florence’s live music ecosystem offers valuable insight into the city’s cultural and spatial dynamics. The dataset, comprising 265 venues across five districts, highlights a significant concentration in District 1, particularly in the historic center, where 60% of the venues are located. This area’s prominence reflects…
Rhythm Resilience: Birmingham’s Live Music Scene Fights Back Amidst Pandemic Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the live music scene in Birmingham, UK, with venues across the city forced to close their doors due to government restrictions arising from public health concerns. In many cases, these closures have been devastating for both the venues themselves and the communities that they serve. Singer/songwriter Namywa…
Level Up – Midlands music industry workshop
We are excited to summarise the enlightening “Level Up Midlands Music Industry Workshop” that unfolded on 13th October 2023, at the Artum/Hockley Social Club. This event marked a significant stride, delving into the nuances of Birmingham’s music industry while also gleaning strategic insights from Liverpool’s music realm. The evening kicked off with opening words by…
Who is Who? An overview of Key Players in the Birmingham Music Ecosystem
“From authorities responsible for regulation and support (public authorities) to organisations representing the interests of the music industry (non-state actors), there are many people involved in shaping the regional music ecosystem The music industry in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands area is a complex ecosystem that involves a wide range of stakeholders (Rozbicka et…















